Spoetnik
07-11-05, 15:40
Questions arise over who desecrated Muslim graves in Birmingham
Two of Birmingham’s most influential religious groups have condemned the desecration of dozens of Muslim headstones at a cemetery near the Lozells area of the city, which was the scene of riots two weeks ago, resulting in the death of a young black man.
Between 35 and 45 graves were discovered vandalised by relatives visiting the Muslim section of Handsworth cemetery on Friday morning; a day after the Islamic celebration of Eid.
Around 500 leaflets were reportedly scattered around the graveyard, attributing the blame to a group called, Black Nation. There are suspicions, however, that the group may not actually exist.
Community members are warning that the perpetrators of the desecration may in fact be extremists attempting to spark a race war between the significantly large black African-Caribbean and Asian communities residing in the city.
Two weeks ago, there were clashes between black and Asian youths following the alleged rape of a 14-year old Jamaican schoolgirl in a hair shop in the Lozells area of Birmingham, by a group of Asian men.
23-year old Isiah Young Sam was stabbed to death on the first night of disturbances after being attacked by a group of up to eleven men during the rioting between black and Asian youths.
Azhil Rashid Khan, aged 22, Waqar Ahmed, 25, and Afzal Asraf Khan, 22 have been charged with the IT analyst’s murder.
A statement released by The Council of Black-led Churches and Birmingham Central Mosque expressed their "sadness" at the vandalisation of the headstones and said:
“We unreservedly condemn this act which can only be designed to ferment tension within and between our diverse communities in this city.
“Only an extremist individual or group would resort to this kind of thing. And we call upon all the people of our great city of Birmingham not to allow, whoever is behind this mindless act, to divide us.”
Suspicions a small group is deliberately trying to create tension....
West Midlands police were gathering the roughly photocopied messages left around the graveyard on Friday, which insulted Muslims. Statements were also taken from those who discovered them and forensic tests were carried out at the scene.
Perry Bar MP Khalid Mahmood, who visited the cemetery also condemned the act and said: “These are disgraceful events, deliberately to entice people.
“They are definitely trying to cause more problems particularly on this day when Muslim people are coming to pay their respects.”
Supt Tom Coughlan said the events of the last two weeks have displayed the tension in the community, but he added:
“I have always said that those problems were caused by a few people with a criminal intent and I would think what we have seen overnight is exactly the same.
“We have people who are quite determined to start up tensions between the two communities.”
During two nights of rioting in Lozells exactly two weeks ago, groups of youths burnt cars and vandalised buildings as they protested.
Members of both the black and Asian communities criticised the police for letting people through their barricades so that both groups were allowed to clash.
The rioting erupted after Asian youths tried to push their way into a church where a public meeting had taken place to discuss the increasing community tensions.
Enraged by the alleged sexual assault of a minor as well as further reports of African-Caribbean women being subjected to disrespect, members of the black community gathered to protest against the neglect of silent black victims of crime by authorities and the biased media, earlier that week.
In response, MP Abdul Aziz told Black Britain just after the riots, that members of the Asian community were reportedly angered by the protests and the allegations being made.
http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details.aspx?i=1813&c=uk&h=Questions+arise+over+who+desecrated+Muslim+grave s+in+Birmingham
Two of Birmingham’s most influential religious groups have condemned the desecration of dozens of Muslim headstones at a cemetery near the Lozells area of the city, which was the scene of riots two weeks ago, resulting in the death of a young black man.
Between 35 and 45 graves were discovered vandalised by relatives visiting the Muslim section of Handsworth cemetery on Friday morning; a day after the Islamic celebration of Eid.
Around 500 leaflets were reportedly scattered around the graveyard, attributing the blame to a group called, Black Nation. There are suspicions, however, that the group may not actually exist.
Community members are warning that the perpetrators of the desecration may in fact be extremists attempting to spark a race war between the significantly large black African-Caribbean and Asian communities residing in the city.
Two weeks ago, there were clashes between black and Asian youths following the alleged rape of a 14-year old Jamaican schoolgirl in a hair shop in the Lozells area of Birmingham, by a group of Asian men.
23-year old Isiah Young Sam was stabbed to death on the first night of disturbances after being attacked by a group of up to eleven men during the rioting between black and Asian youths.
Azhil Rashid Khan, aged 22, Waqar Ahmed, 25, and Afzal Asraf Khan, 22 have been charged with the IT analyst’s murder.
A statement released by The Council of Black-led Churches and Birmingham Central Mosque expressed their "sadness" at the vandalisation of the headstones and said:
“We unreservedly condemn this act which can only be designed to ferment tension within and between our diverse communities in this city.
“Only an extremist individual or group would resort to this kind of thing. And we call upon all the people of our great city of Birmingham not to allow, whoever is behind this mindless act, to divide us.”
Suspicions a small group is deliberately trying to create tension....
West Midlands police were gathering the roughly photocopied messages left around the graveyard on Friday, which insulted Muslims. Statements were also taken from those who discovered them and forensic tests were carried out at the scene.
Perry Bar MP Khalid Mahmood, who visited the cemetery also condemned the act and said: “These are disgraceful events, deliberately to entice people.
“They are definitely trying to cause more problems particularly on this day when Muslim people are coming to pay their respects.”
Supt Tom Coughlan said the events of the last two weeks have displayed the tension in the community, but he added:
“I have always said that those problems were caused by a few people with a criminal intent and I would think what we have seen overnight is exactly the same.
“We have people who are quite determined to start up tensions between the two communities.”
During two nights of rioting in Lozells exactly two weeks ago, groups of youths burnt cars and vandalised buildings as they protested.
Members of both the black and Asian communities criticised the police for letting people through their barricades so that both groups were allowed to clash.
The rioting erupted after Asian youths tried to push their way into a church where a public meeting had taken place to discuss the increasing community tensions.
Enraged by the alleged sexual assault of a minor as well as further reports of African-Caribbean women being subjected to disrespect, members of the black community gathered to protest against the neglect of silent black victims of crime by authorities and the biased media, earlier that week.
In response, MP Abdul Aziz told Black Britain just after the riots, that members of the Asian community were reportedly angered by the protests and the allegations being made.
http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details.aspx?i=1813&c=uk&h=Questions+arise+over+who+desecrated+Muslim+grave s+in+Birmingham